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Hybrid (biology)

A mule is a sterile hybrid of a male donkey and a female horse. This creature stands smaller than horses but stronger than donkeys, making it useful as pack animals. In biology, a hybrid is the offspring resulting from combining qualities of two organisms of different varieties, subspecies, species or genera through sexual reproduction. Each cell in such an individual carries genetic material from two different organisms. An individual where some cells are derived from a different organism is called a chimera instead. Hybrids are not always intermediates between their parents. They can show hybrid vigor, sometimes growing larger or taller than either parent. The concept of a hybrid is interpreted differently in animal and plant breeding. There is interest in the individual parentage within those fields. Genetics focuses on the numbers of chromosomes. Taxonomy asks how closely related the parent species are.

Evolutionary Speciation Mechanisms

Roughly 25% of plants and 10% of animals are known to form hybrids with at least one other species. Hybridization plays an important role in evolution though there is much debate about its significance. Hybrid individuals can form a bridge transmitting potentially helpful genes from one species to another when backcrossing occurs. This process is called introgression. Hybrids can also cause speciation because they are genetically incompatible with their parents. They may occupy a different niche than either parent. Hybridization is a particularly common mechanism for speciation in plants. It is now known to be fundamental to the evolutionary history of plants. Plants frequently form polyploids, individuals with more than two copies of each chromosome. Whole genome doubling has occurred repeatedly in plant evolution. When two plant species hybridize, the hybrid may double its chromosome count by incorporating the entire nuclear genome of both parents. This results in offspring that are reproductively incompatible with either parent due to different chromosome counts.

What is a mule in biology?

A mule is a sterile hybrid of a male donkey and a female horse. This creature stands smaller than horses but stronger than donkeys, making it useful as pack animals.

When was the oldest-known animal hybrid bred by humans created?

The oldest-known animal hybrid bred by humans is the kunga equid hybrid produced 4,500 years ago in Umm el-Marra, present-day Syria.

How does hybridization affect plant evolution?

Hybridization is a particularly common mechanism for speciation in plants and is now known to be fundamental to the evolutionary history of plants. Whole genome doubling has occurred repeatedly in plant evolution when two plant species hybridize.

Why do conservationists worry about genetic pollution from hybrids?

Genetic erosion from monoculture in crop plants may damage gene pools of many species for future breeding. Hybridization could potentially threaten rare species or lineages by swamping genetically pure individuals with hybrids.

Which yeast produces lager beer through hybridization?

Production of lager beers is known to be carried out by yeast Saccharomyces pastorianus, a cryotolerant hybrid between Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces eubayanus.

Hybrid (biology)

Evolutionary Speciation Mechanisms

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Common questions

What is a mule in biology?

When was the oldest-known animal hybrid bred by humans created?

How does hybridization affect plant evolution?

Why do conservationists worry about genetic pollution from hybrids?

Which yeast produces lager beer through hybridization?

Human Impact And Conservation

Taxonomy Across Kingdoms

Agricultural Applications And History